Having returned to New Zealand for the first time in 56 years for the inaugural Queenstown Classic tournament in 2006, IM Robert G. Wade at age 87 was reported to be looking forward to participating in the second Queenstown Classic in January next year. He will be missed – his passing earlier this month was a moment of great sadness for chess players everywhere, such was his involvement in the game over his long career. Born in Dunedin in 1921, Wade won three New Zealand Championship titles in the 1940s before basing himself permanently in England. Over seven decades of playing, coaching, administration, writing and publishing, Wade's kindness, generosity and sense of humour made many friends in the chess world. Perhaps most notably, Bobby Fischer engaged his assistance in preparation for both his famous matches against Boris Spassky.
As a player, Wade was known for his sharp tactical eye and original opening preparation. Accordingly, he played many fine combinations against some of the world's top players in his day. Todays game is an early example of a Wade combination and was demonstrated by the winner to the Otago Chess Club in 2006. Played by correspondence in New Zealand in 1942, Wade is White against Dr E.W. Bennett.
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Rc1 Nbd7 7. Nf3 c6
The Orthodox variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined – especially favoured by Capablanca. 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. O-O Nxc3 12. Rxc3 e5
This central counterthrust is key to the Classical Orthodox Defence. Black frees his light squared bishop and challenges White's centre with a solid position. The drawbacks are the exposing of f7 to the white bishop and a slight lag in development caused by all the piece exchanges. 13. Qc2 exd4 14. exd4 Nf6 15. Re1 Qd6 16. Ng5 Bg4?!
All the moves up to Black's last were known theory at the time (this was a correspondence game after all) and the last move is now theory too. The recommended reply is the immediate sacrifice 17 Bxf7+! Rxf7 18 Nxf7 Kxf7 19 Qb3+ Kf8 20 Qxb7 Rb8 21 Qxa7 Rxb2 22 Rxc6! Qxc6 23 Qa3+ and White gets rook and 2 pawns for his bishop and knight. However, Wade sees an even trickier way to take advantage of Black's straightforward plan to bring his bishop back to defend the kingside. 17. Rg3!? Bh5 18. Rh3 Bg6?
Best was 18 ... Qb4 when White retains the initiative. Wade now lands his killer blow... 19. Qxg6!! Resigns
Possibly in sheer admiration for the geometry of the sequence 19 ... hxg6 20 Bxf7+ Rxf7 21 Rh8+ Kxh8 22 Nxf7+ Kh7 23 Nxd6 leaving White only a pawn up but with a clearly winning endgame due to the weakness of the remaining black pawns. In an over-the-board match Black could well have played on, but in correspondence the chances of White slipping up are next to none.
Bob Wade to be missed in Queenstown
Problem: White to play and mate in five.
Having returned to New Zealand for the first time in 56 years for the inaugural Queenstown Classic tournament in 2006, IM Robert G. Wade at age 87 was reported to be looking forward to participating in the second Queenstown Classic in January next year. He will be missed – his passing earlier this month was a moment of great sadness for chess players everywhere, such was his involvement in the game over his long career. Born in Dunedin in 1921, Wade won three New Zealand Championship titles in the 1940s before basing himself permanently in England. Over seven decades of playing, coaching, administration, writing and publishing, Wade's kindness, generosity and sense of humour made many friends in the chess world. Perhaps most notably, Bobby Fischer engaged his assistance in preparation for both his famous matches against Boris Spassky.
As a player, Wade was known for his sharp tactical eye and original opening preparation. Accordingly, he played many fine combinations against some of the world's top players in his day. Todays game is an early example of a Wade combination and was demonstrated by the winner to the Otago Chess Club in 2006. Played by correspondence in New Zealand in 1942, Wade is White against Dr E.W. Bennett.
1. d4 d5
2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. Bg5 Be7
5. e3 O-O
6. Rc1 Nbd7
7. Nf3 c6
The Orthodox variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined – especially favoured by Capablanca.
8. Bd3 dxc4
9. Bxc4 Nd5
10. Bxe7 Qxe7
11. O-O Nxc3
12. Rxc3 e5
This central counterthrust is key to the Classical Orthodox Defence. Black frees his light squared bishop and challenges White's centre with a solid position. The drawbacks are the exposing of f7 to the white bishop and a slight lag in development caused by all the piece exchanges.
13. Qc2 exd4
14. exd4 Nf6
15. Re1 Qd6
16. Ng5 Bg4?!
All the moves up to Black's last were known theory at the time (this was a correspondence game after all) and the last move is now theory too. The recommended reply is the immediate sacrifice 17 Bxf7+! Rxf7 18 Nxf7 Kxf7 19 Qb3+ Kf8 20 Qxb7 Rb8 21 Qxa7 Rxb2 22 Rxc6! Qxc6 23 Qa3+ and White gets rook and 2 pawns for his bishop and knight. However, Wade sees an even trickier way to take advantage of Black's straightforward plan to bring his bishop back to defend the kingside.
17. Rg3!? Bh5
18. Rh3 Bg6?
Best was 18 ... Qb4 when White retains the initiative. Wade now lands his killer blow...
19. Qxg6!! Resigns
Possibly in sheer admiration for the geometry of the sequence 19 ... hxg6 20 Bxf7+ Rxf7 21 Rh8+ Kxh8 22 Nxf7+ Kh7 23 Nxd6 leaving White only a pawn up but with a clearly winning endgame due to the weakness of the remaining black pawns. In an over-the-board match Black could well have played on, but in correspondence the chances of White slipping up are next to none.
1-0
Solution: 1 Ng7+ Kxh4 2 Rd2 Kh3 (2 ... Bh3 3 Rh2 and 4 Rg4#) 3 Bf1+ Kh4 4 Rh2+ Bh3 5 Rxh3#.